Austin would require developers that displace tenants by demolishing or renovating multi-family properties to provide six months’ notice and relocation stipends under a proposed resolution from Council Member Sabino “Pio” Renteria.

The resolution directs the city manager to return in four months with an ordinance that would also mandate that developers offer “flexible move-out dates” in the six months after move-out notice is given, fully refund security deposits when no developer-owned property is missing, wait a “reasonable” period between receiving a demolition permit and actually beginning demolition, and give tenants access to Realtors or other professionals to help with their move.

Relocation and moving stipends should be available to tenants based on household income and other factors such as age and disability, the resolution said.

Residents and City Council members Pio Renteria, Greg Casar and Delia Garza at a residents’ meeting last month outside the Lakeview Apartments at 2401 S. Lakeshore Blvd.

The proposal comes on the heels of the much-publicized displacement of the tenants of Lakeview Apartments in Southeast Austin. The apartment management sent letters June 26 telling tenants the complex would be demolished, followed by an Aug. 13 notice that all residents must be out when the complex was scheduled to close at the end of September.

Tenants drove in a caravan last month to ask one of the principals of CRV Shoreline, LP, which owns the site, to let them stay through the end of their leases, the Statesman reported. A spokesman for Cypress Real Estate Advisors, which plans to tear down the apartment buildings at 2401 S. Lakeshore Blvd. as part of a larger development the City Council approved in 2007, said that the developer has worked with tenants who needed more time and that there are about 15 tenants still living there.

David Chincanchan, Renteria’s policy aide, said the Lakeview Apartments situation “re-ignited” a conversation that began in 2012 about crafting a city policy that would assist displaced tenants. As Statesman reporter Marty Toohey wrote last month, the previous council requested a set of adoption-ready proposals that the city staff promptly delivered. But as their focus turned to addressing dilapidated conditions at other rental properties, and then to last year’s elections that ushered in a new council, the tenant relocation policy never made it to the council for a vote.

Renteria’s resolution was slated for discussion at Wednesday’s Housing and Community Development Committee meeting, but the meeting was canceled at the last minute because a “quorum,” or majority, of the four members couldn’t be present, Chincanchan said.

Council Member Ann Kitchen had told Renteria’s office in advance she couldn’t make the meeting because of a prior commitment, Chincanchan said. Council Member Greg Casar was returning from a conference and got stuck at the Houston airport, he said.

Both Kitchen and Casar, as well as Council Members Kathie Tovo and Delia Garza, are co-sponsoring the resolution, Chincanchan said.

“There were tenants and advocates who showed up to speak and unfortunately they didn’t get a chance to voice their concerns, but hopefully … they’ll be able to join us again,” Chincanchan said.

The resolution also directs the city manager to hold two public meetings about proposed changes.

Committee members’ offices will discuss whether to take up the resolution at a special-called meeting or at the next regularly scheduled committee meeting on Nov. 18 – or just bring the resolution straight to council, Chincanchan said.

Correction: This blog has been updated to correct the description of factors, such as age and disability, that would be considered in granting moving stipends under Renteria’s proposal.

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